Close Friend Chakrit Breaks Down at Ray's Funeral Service

Actor and presenter Ray MacDonald, a beloved Thai-Scottish entertainment figure from the 1990s, died suddenly on August 19 from three blocked coronary arteries. His close friend Chakrit was visibly devastated while preparing funeral arrangements at Wat Yang Royal Temple on August 20, with his wife Ann providing comfort as they organized the Buddhist ceremonies.

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At 12:30 p.m. on August 20 at Wat Yang Royal Temple, Ray MacDonald's wife Samrina, along with close friends Chakrit Yainnam and Leo Puth, attended the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police Hospital to receive the autopsy results. The findings indicated three blocked coronary arteries leading to heart failure. Ray's body was then transported to Wat Yang Royal Temple for religious ceremonies.

At 1:05 p.m., a rescue van arrived at the temple with Ray's body, accompanied by his wife and close friends. Ann Pattira, Chakrit's wife, and other friends were waiting at the temple to prepare for the water-sprinkling ceremony and merit-making rites.

Heartbreaking footage showed Chakrit, who received his close friend's body at the temple to arrange the funeral rites, sitting in tears at the temple hall with his wife Ann comforting him by his side.

Ray MacDonald was a Thai-Scottish actor and presenter who became an idol for 1990s youth and won two consecutive Golden Swan Awards for Best Actor in the series "Crazy Karaoke Dream" and "Love by Design." He later transitioned to become a travel influencer and YouTube content creator with the channel "Rayron: Wandering," becoming a role model for many travel influencers.

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National

Thai Presenter Shares Father's Heart Disease Warning Signs

Thai presenter Gift Warodaya shares his father's discovery of severe coronary artery disease, where one blood vessel was 90 percent blocked with plaque. Gift recognized the warning signs—mild chest tightness and sharp arm pain—from prior work on a heart disease awareness campaign, allowing him to seek urgent treatment that potentially prevented a fatal heart attack. The story highlights that coronary artery disease can affect anyone regardless of fitness level and typically stems from prolonged consumption of unhealthy foods.

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Thai presenter and actor Gift Warodaya Kamthontip has shared his family's experience with his father's health scare, which led to discovering severe coronary artery disease during routine hospital screening. One of his father's blood vessels was found to be 90 percent blocked with plaque; had treatment been delayed further, a heart attack could have occurred at any time.

Gift credits his knowledge of heart disease symptoms to work he did over a decade ago as a presenter for Phyathai Hospital and Mahidol Channel covering heart disease awareness. When his mother called to report his father's symptoms—mild chest discomfort and sharp pain radiating to the left arm, lasting no more than 15 minutes and recurring every two to three weeks—Gift immediately recognized them as warning signs and rushed his father to Siriraj Hospital for comprehensive cardiac testing.

The human heart has three major arteries: one in the front and two in the back. Doctors discovered that one of the rear arteries in Gift's father had become 90 percent blocked. Coronary artery disease is not determined by physical fitness alone; many athletes have collapsed on the field without knowing they had the condition. The disease typically develops gradually from prolonged consumption of foods high in unhealthy fats. Today, Gift's father takes daily heart medication and carefully monitors his diet, maintains regular health checkups, and watches for warning signs—a reminder for everyone to look after the health of those they love.

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Police

Police Rescue Toddler Locked Inside Truck at Gas Station

Police and mechanics in Rayong Province rescued a toddler who became trapped inside a locked truck after a parent stepped out to run an errand at a petrol station. The child's doors locked automatically while the parent was away, and officers spent over 20 minutes safely extracting the child. Police are urging parents never to leave young children unattended in vehicles.

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Police mechanics and traffic officers from Ban Chang Station rescued a young child trapped alone inside a six-wheeled truck after the doors locked automatically while a parent was away. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, as emergencies can strike unexpectedly. At 07:30 on August 21, 2025, Colonel Thanongsak Kammat, commander of Ban Chang Station, received a report that a small child was locked inside a six-wheeled passenger truck parked at a petrol station on Sukhumvit Road in Ban Chang District, Rayong Province. He immediately dispatched traffic police and mechanics from the station to assist. Officers discovered that the parent had exited the truck to run an errand while refueling, leaving a toddler alone inside with the engine running. The vehicle's doors then locked automatically, trapping the child inside. Officers worked for more than 20 minutes before successfully removing the child safely. Ban Chang Station's commander has issued a public warning to parents with young children: always remove your keys when parking and never leave children unattended in vehicles, as unexpected emergencies can occur at any time.

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Community

ETC and BWG Launch Waste-to-Goods Exchange Program

Earth Tech Environment and Better World Green companies launched the "Happiness Bank" program in Saraburi Province on August 19, allowing residents to exchange collected waste for essential consumer goods. The inaugural event collected 4.8 tons of waste and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 419 mature trees. The initiative reflects the organizations' commitment to turning discarded materials into community benefits while promoting sustainable waste management practices.

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Earth Tech Environment Public Company Limited (ETC) and Better World Green Public Company Limited (BWG) have partnered to organize the "Happiness Bank BWG x ETC" initiative on August 19, 2026, at Wat Phra That Ban Nuea in Saraburi Province. The program aims to promote community-based waste sorting from the source and add value to discarded materials, returning benefits to society. The event was opened by Sirichai Suphamon, Deputy District Officer of Kaeng Khoi District, serving as the official representative, with ETC's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Suphawat Kunravini reporting on the event's objectives, and BWG Vice Chairman Akkrawit Khanthaew thanking all participants. Local government officials, subdistrict administrators, village headmen, and community leaders attended in full support.

A key highlight of the program was the opportunity for residents to bring "worthless waste" to exchange for essential daily consumer goods, demonstrating that discarded materials can create real value and happiness for communities. The inaugural event successfully collected 4,840 kilograms (approximately 4.8 tons) of waste and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 9,216.65 kgCO₂e, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of approximately 419 mature trees. The event also featured renowned entertainer Poom Kiattiphoom, who engaged warmly with the public in activities that created a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

The "Happiness Bank BWG x ETC" initiative goes beyond promoting waste sorting and proper disposal methods; it reinforces the shared vision of "transforming waste into happiness" held by both organizations, demonstrating their commitment to improving community living standards alongside sustainable environmental management.

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National

PM Seeks T&G Partnership to Boost Thai Fruit Exports

Prime Minister Anuthin Charnweerakul met with executives from New Zealand fruit giant T&G Global in Auckland to discuss deepening cooperation on Thai agriculture. The talks aim to connect Thai farmers to T&G's distribution network spanning over 50 countries while applying the company's expertise in apple production to elevate Thai fruit standards. The partnership would position Thailand as a regional agricultural trade hub for Southeast Asia while benefiting the country's 6.4 million farming households.

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Prime Minister Anuthin Charnweerakul and his delegation held talks with T&G Global executives in Auckland, New Zealand on August 20 to explore expanded cooperation and investment opportunities in Thailand. According to Naruetan Thedtheerashakdi, secretary-general of the Board of Investment, the discussions centered on integrating Thai high-quality fruits and agricultural products into T&G's global distribution network to reach markets across the region and worldwide. The prime minister proposed applying T&G's experience in transforming local agricultural products into world-class branded apples to improve Thai fruit cultivation standards, harvesting, packaging, and value-added production.

Thailand's strategic location in the heart of Southeast Asia connects it to over 700 million consumers and benefits from robust infrastructure including Laem Chabang Port, Suvarnabhumi Airport, cold chain systems, and logistics providers. This cooperation would benefit Thailand's approximately 6.4 million farming households, nearly one-third of the national workforce, by opening global markets for their produce. Both parties also discussed research and development partnerships, particularly in post-harvest management technology and agricultural storage methods to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables without chemical preservatives.

T&G Global, founded in 1887, is one of New Zealand's largest and oldest horticultural companies, operating integrated operations from crop research and development through cultivation, packaging, storage, logistics, and distribution. The company operates farms in 10 countries and sells fresh fruit in over 50 nations worldwide, with apples accounting for approximately 67 percent of revenue. Premium brands include ENVY, JAZZ, and Orchard Rd. T&G operates in Thailand through T&G South East Asia, headquartered in Bangkok since 2016, and has been granted investment promotion status for an International Business Center, making Thailand a key base for Southeast Asian operations.

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Police

Police Find No Evidence of Street Solicitation in Pathum Thani

Pathum Thani Provincial Police investigated reports of street solicitation at Rattanakosindr 200 Years housing estate following viral social media posts, but found no evidence of the alleged activity. The police deployed officers with an EOD vehicle to the area to check the complaints that had circulated online and been covered by multiple media outlets.

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Pathum Thani Provincial Police conducted an inspection of the Rattanakosindr 200 Years housing estate but found no sign of the reported woman engaging in street solicitation, contrary to earlier viral social media posts. Following reports circulating on social media in Pathum Thani province of a young woman displaying solicitation behavior—sitting on a chair along the roadside and on motorcycles near the Rattanakosindr 200 Years estate and Rangsit railway station while waving at passing drivers—multiple media outlets had previously covered the story. The Pathum Thani News Facebook page recently posted a 21-second video clip showing the Investigation Division of Pathum Thani Provincial Police deploying officers with an EOD vehicle to the area to investigate the complaints at the Rattanakosindr 200 Years housing estate. The police operation found no evidence of any persons engaged in illegal activity.

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National

Deputy PM Stays in Nan for Second Night to Oversee Flood Response

Deputy Prime Minister Yotchasnan Wongsudsadej extended his stay in flood-hit Nan Province to a second night on August 20, personally overseeing relief and rescue operations across inundated communities. The high-level delegation distributed aid, assessed damage, and found water levels reaching 1.5 meters with forecasts of additional surges in coming hours. The deputy prime minister ordered enhanced support for displaced residents and confirmed plans to remain in command to coordinate ongoing emergency response and recovery efforts.

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On August 20, 2569, following a briefing at the unified Single Command center for flood prevention and mitigation in Nan Province, Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Yotchasnan Wongsudsadej, along with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Nan Provincial Governor Chairongon Wongyai, Nan Provincial Administrative Organization Chairman Naprat Thawong, former Public Health Minister Dr. Chonlanan Srikhaew, and former Nan MP Songyad Ramsoot, led a delegation to the affected areas to monitor the situation and provide moral support to residents.

The group visited evacuation centers at Nan Municipal Sub-district Municipality to meet with disaster survivors, finding them in good spirits, feeling safe, and preparing to return home soon to clean and restore their homes. The deputy prime minister instructed relevant officials to ensure adequate food, clean drinking water, bedding, medications, and medical supplies to support public health continuously through the post-flood period.

The delegation then traveled to Phumin-Tali communities to provide encouragement, drinking water, and relief packages. They proceeded to Klang Wiang Sub-district Municipality to distribute aid packages and assess conditions. At this second location, the team had to take boats to navigate through floodwaters reaching approximately 1.50 meters, with a new surge of water expected within two hours. The area houses elderly residents living alone and is the final collection point before water flows to downstream dams.

The delegation continued to the Department of Public Works Bridge crossing the Nan River, which had risen significantly and was impassable for residents. Water had also overflowed into surrounding communities, prompting officials and villagers to urgently place sandbag barriers to prevent further flooding.

Given the severity of the situation, the deputy prime minister decided to remain in Nan for a second consecutive night, maintaining 24-hour command center operations to monitor water conditions closely. He confirmed his readiness to coordinate emergency assistance if the situation worsens, and will remain in command until the flood crisis subsides.

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Regional

Village Residents Dispute Private Detective's Affair Allegations

Private investigator Boy's report alleging an affair between a school principal and teacher at a temple crematorium in Buriram has been disputed by local residents. Villagers confirmed seeing a black sedan parked at the site and men taking photographs, but denied that any woman or principal was present at the location. Community members are asking the investigator to produce additional evidence to support the allegations.

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A controversy has erupted on social media after private investigator Boy released an investigation report alleging an affair between a school principal and a teacher. The teacher's husband, whose infant child is only four months old, hired the investigator after noticing his wife frequently leaving home at night claiming to shop at the market. Rumors had also circulated among villagers and school staff that the teacher and principal had grown unusually close at the school.

Boy's report claimed to show photographs and video evidence of the pair meeting and engaging in intimate behavior at a crematorium site within the temple grounds in Buriram province. However, when reporters visited Nong Bos Temple in Buri Ram, they found locals with a different account. A 46-year-old woman identified as Ms. A, a temple committee member, stated that on August 19 in the evening, a black Nissan with Bangkok license plates did park near the crematorium. About seven to eight people were present, and they watched two men get out to photograph the crematorium, temple, and surrounding forest. When villagers questioned them about the long parking, the men said they were smoking. Ms. A emphasized that no woman or principal was seen in the area, and the photographs published showing the crematorium were genuine, but the context and people depicted were not.

Ms. Om, a 53-year-old school cook, similarly refuted the report as entirely false. She noted the school has only seven teachers—five women and two men—most with children aged eight or nine, and no staff member has a two-month-old child. She also stated the school lacks a principal due to low student numbers and has only an acting director. However, she acknowledged that a suspicious black sedan had been circling the school, and her husband filmed its license plate. When police checked, the plate did not match the vehicle. Residents are questioning the investigator's claims and calling for him to provide clearer evidence.

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National

Anti-Corruption Agency Vows to Monitor TH-AI Passport Launch

Thailand's anti-corruption agency is investigating allegations that the TH-AI Passport project unfairly favours private companies, but officials say this will not delay the August 31 launch. The secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission assured the public that safeguards are already in place and field investigators are monitoring the programme.

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The secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed on August 20 that the agency is investigating whether Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiyachanok Chidchob has granted unfair advantages to private firms through specification locks in the TH-AI Passport project. The investigation is currently ongoing. When asked whether the agency would monitor the project for corruption when it launches on August 31, the secretary-general said the commission is already running legal and preventive measures in tandem, including both proactive and reactive work, enforcement, and investigations, with field officers already stationed to watch for misconduct. He added that while public concerns persist, project implementation remains the government's responsibility while the anti-corruption agency handles oversight, and no action should prevent the programme from going forward.

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Police

Police Arrest Notorious Scam Ringleader in Pumpkin Seed Betting Fraud

Police arrested a 71-year-old woman identified as Grandma So, the ringleader of a fraud gang accused of scamming a Phuket resident out of 9 million baht through elaborate fake pumpkin seed betting schemes. The suspect has an extensive criminal history spanning 15 years with multiple similar cases across Thailand, causing total damages exceeding 64 million baht. She was detained and will face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and illegal gambling operations.

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On August 20, 2025, police arrested Tiwali, alias 'Grandma So,' a 71-year-old woman wanted under court warrants from Phuket Provincial Court and Kalasin Provincial Court on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and illegal gambling operation. She was apprehended in Phuket city.

The victim initially advertised land for sale in Phuket worth approximately 2 million baht. A gang posing as potential buyers, including figures known as 'Dom' and 'So,' approached the victim to build trust. When the victim showed serious interest, they introduced him to 'Hong,' a supposed wealthy woman with large cash holdings and a fondness for pumpkin seed betting.

The gang member 'Tiger' then convinced the victim to invest in betting games, teaching him what appeared to be winning strategies. In the initial rounds, the gang deliberately lost several times to encourage the victim to increase his bets. During the sixth round with much higher stakes, they secretly removed a pumpkin seed to manipulate the outcome in Hong's favor.

When results did not match expectations, Tiger blamed the victim for losing a seed, claiming he was responsible for the loss and must repay all bets. Using this deception repeatedly, the gang extracted over 9 million baht from the victim.

Upon realizing he had been defrauded, the victim filed a complaint. Police obtained arrest warrants and apprehended multiple gang members, including Tiwali. During initial questioning, she denied all charges. However, a criminal records check revealed she is a professional scammer with a 15-year history involving numerous cases nationwide, causing total damages exceeding 64 million baht. She was detained and referred for prosecution.

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National

Deputy PM Defends Local Ties, Denies Senate Takeover Link

Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri defended his extensive local connections, saying it is natural for him to know many officials given his former role as Interior Ministry official and long career as a lawmaker since 1992. He dismissed opposition allegations linking him to a Senate takeover plot as baseless, reiterating he will not engage in illegal activity. Songsak framed the opposition's planned no-confidence debate as routine parliamentary oversight, which the government is prepared to face.

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At 12:50 p.m. on August 20 at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri responded to the opposition's plans to file a no-confidence motion, calling it normal parliamentary work. He said the government welcomes scrutiny of government affairs and is ready to be inspected on matters within the cabinet's responsibility.

When asked whether a Senate-related debate would concern the government, Songsak explained that the government comes from House of Representatives votes, and the Constitution does not show the Senate forming the government. Therefore, a no-confidence debate should focus on the Prime Minister and cabinet, while Senate matters would be for the Senate's judgment, particularly the Senate President's role in vetting the motion.

Regarding allegations by Preesat Wachrasindhu, a Pheu Thai list MP, that Withaya Kampuang, subdistrict mayor of Ponsah in Nong Khai, is linked to him and connected to a Senate takeover plot, Songsak laughed. He recalled attending a royal cremation the day before, where many people asked for photos with him. "Some I recognize, some I hardly know. If someone asks for a photo, I can't refuse," he said.

Songsak added that as former Interior Ministry official, he worked closely with local governments and developed local projects. "Of course I know local officials. I've been an MP since 1992, not just recently. People will naturally know me. I don't deny knowing many people, but I won't do anything illegal," he stated. He firmly denied any involvement in a Senate takeover scheme, saying such arrangements have their own legal framework separate from him.

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